Long Beach Imports Flat, Exports Dip

CMA CGM containership at the Port of Long Beach (Photo courtesy of the Port of Long Beach)

Port of Long Beach sees overall gains with jump in empty containers in July

Total cargo container numbers rose 3.7 percent in July at the Port of Long Beach compared to the same month last year, making for the Southern California seaport’s busiest July since 2010.

A total of 583,060 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were moved through Long Beach in July. Of these, 297,615 TEUs were imports, which rose slightly by 0.9 percent. Exports declined 6.2 percent to 124,126 TEUs. Empty containers escalated 19.5 percent to 161,319 TEUs.

The relatively flat import numbers in July came after a surge in June 2014, when retailers were stocking up for back-to-school shopping. Through the first seven months of 2014, container cargo traffic is up 2.7 percent at the Port of Long Beach, showing the economy is continuing to grow.

Last year, against which 2014 is being compared, was the third-busiest year in port history with a total of 6.73 million TEUs.

With an ongoing $4 billion program to modernize its facilities, the Port of Long Beach continues to invest in long-term, environmentally sustainable growth.